Pneumatic spring suspension



June 9, 1925. 1,540,825

J. VON WALDY PNEUMATLC lSPMNG SUSPENSION Filed May l, 1924 ,25 Julius' 7.022%@ WMM www,

Patented June 9, 1925.

i UNITED STATES JULIUs voN wALnY, or NEW YORK, N. Y.`

PNEU'MATIC SPRING SUSPENSION.

`Application filed May 1, 1924. Serial No. 7,1(),445

To all 'whom t may @0f/cern Be it known that I, JULrUs VoN WALDY, a resident of New York, in the county `ot New York and State of New York, have invented an Improvement in Pneumatic Spring Suspensions, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like characters on the drawings representing like parts.

My invention aims to provide an improved spring suspension for vehicles, particularly adapted to automobiles of a well known type and the subject matter of this application constitutes an improvement on the construction shown in my co-pending application entitled Spring suspension.

In the accompanying wherein I have shown one embodiment of my invention selected for illustrative purposes;

Fig. 1 is a front elevation ot a portion of a vehicle showing my invention applied thereto;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal, central, vertical section of the pneumatic spring shown in Fig. 1, showing one form of the attaching means; j

Fig. 3 is a top plan view vot the device shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4; is a vertical section taken on the` line t-4 ot Fig. 1; and,

Fig. 5 is a .fragmentary vertical section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Referring more particularly tothe drawings, I have shown my improved pneumatic spring as comprising an elongated pneumatic casing 10 constituting an elastic beam having means provided adjacent the ends of the casing and atits central region for securing it to parts of the vehicle, such as the axle and the trame. Also, my infvention contemplates the provision of an inner tube 11 adapted to be inserted in the casing from either end as desired.

Referring to Fig. 1, I have shown the casing 10 as having, for convenience, continuous walls with top and side openings and closed ends 12. The casing is provided, adjacent the ends, with means for attaching it to the vehicle axle. To this-end opposed openings 13 of any desired shape are preferably provided in `the opposite side walls of the casing and are surrounded by reentorced beads ltto afford means for securing supporting plates or rims 15 rigidly on the casing. As shown in Fig. 4 the plates 15 have bead embracing Hanges 16 and tubular projections 17 adapted to enter the respective openings preferably telescoping one within the otherand extending from one wall to the other. Suitable brackets 18, preferably fork-shaped, as shown in Fig. t, are adapted to be secured to the supporting plates or rims 15 by means of bolts 19 or other suitablesecuring devicesf These brackets may have any suitable means, such as bolt'ends, for securing them rigidly to the axle (see Fig. 1).

At the top ot' the casing between its ends I have shown another opening ot' suicient size to permit withdrawal of the cores necessary for making the casing. On the opposite sides of the opening 4strengthening beads 20 are also preferably provided. j The securing means tor connecting this portion of the casing to the vehicle frame 21 pref erably comprises a suitable attaching and .closure plate 22 underlying the beads 20 somewhat in the manner of a hand-hole closure plate. This plate preferably has an integral projection or rib 23 adapted to be attached to the vehiclel trame 21 in any convenient manner. As shown, the projection or rib is inserted in a channel beam of the fra-me 21. On the top of the casing around the opening I have shown a continuous metal rim 24; on which the frame or channelV beam 21 may rest, thus preventing cutting of the casing wall. `As shown in Fig.

this plate is curled over thebeads 20 so as to prevent lateral spreading ot the cas-V ing walls on opposite sides of the opening. As shown in' Fig. 2 the projection 23 is bolted or otherwise secured to the web ot the Vchannel-21 as by the stud bolts 25, so that the rim 24 is securely clamped on the bead 20 between the closure plat-e .andthe frame. j

The casing constitutes a iexible beam and is constructed of sufficient strength to withstand shocks and jars due to vhard usage. Preferably it is provided with suitablev tension elements which may advantageously be disposed on opposite sides of the longitudinal walls of the. casing. For this purpose metal cables 26er other suitable tension eleV- ments are preferably disposedaround the ico tubular projections of thesupporting plates 15and are imbeddedin the casing wall. As

iiexure of the beam and to carry a part of` the load. e

To provide suitable reenforcing means to prevent undue upward flexure or recoil of the beam, and to provide for lateral stability of the'vehiele, I have shown tension elements 27, also preferably of metal cable,

limbedded in and partially surrounding the walls ofthe casing. In the preferred embodiment `of my invention these` cables 27 also constitute the reenforcing elements for the beads surrounding the openings. As

. shown in Fig. 1, each of the cables 27 pref- Verably is looped at each endand imbedded in the beads 14. The intermediate stretch extends from the beads 14 upwardly along Vmetal clips 28 or other convenient tying devi-ces so as to prevent lateral spreading thereof.. Thus, the cables 27 constitute tension elements to prevent undue upward flexure of the beam and also provide the neces! sary reenforcing` elements for the beads, DueV to the arrangement of the cables, rocking or swaying of the vehicle laterally is eliminated, thereby absorbing the momentum tending to turn the vehicle over in turn- ,ing curves.

The inner tube 11 preferably has end portions which surround the tubular extensions 17 of the end plates 15. The` inner tube may, for convenience, be somewhat similar to that employed in bicycles and the like, and the valve stem 29 preferably projects through one of the tubular projections 17. If it is desired to remove the inner tube for repairs, each of the supporting plates 15 may be removed and the tube pulled out of one of the openings,

From the foregoing description it will be observed that my improved pneumatic beam, provided as it is with suitable tension elements, is particularly adapted for use in automobiles and the like. Any shocks and jars to which such vehicles are subjected will be readily absorbed. by the pneumatic casing without causing objectionable vibration of the automobile body.

Alsomy improved suspension may easily be substituted for such springs as are cornmonly used -in automobiles of a well known type without necessitating any alterations y of the axle or the chassis.

My invention is not limited to the particular illustrative embodiment herein disclosed.

What I claim and Letters Patent is:

1. A vehicle `spring comprising a pneu` matic beam having rigid securing means adjacent vthe ends and securing means intermediate vits ends for connection to the vehicle frame and to the running gear, means associated with the beam for resisting downward flexure and means for resisting undue upward flexure of the beam.

2. A vehicle spring comprising a pneumatic beam secured near its ends to the ,vehicle axle and between its ends to the vehicle frame and means associated with the beam Lfor resisting undue upward flexure due to rebound, y

3. A vehicle spring comprising a pneumatic beam secured near its ends to the vehicle axle and between Aits ends to the vehicle frame, the top wall of said beam being rigidly supported for a portion of its length and tension elements imbedded in the beam associated with the rigid portion of the top wall and arranged to resist lateral sway of the vehicle.

Ll. A vehicle spring comprising an inflatable elongated casing having opposed openings in its side walls adjacent the ends, means insertible in said openings having desire to secure by provision for supporting said casing upon.

the vehicle axle and means for securing the casing between its ends to the vvehicle frame.

5. A vehicle spring comprising an elongated pneumatic casing closed at both ends and having opposed openings in the side walls adjacent the ends, securing plates over said openings having tubular projectionspassing through said casing, brackets for securing said plates to the vehicle axle and means for connectingl the casing between the ends to the vehicle frame. Y

6. A spring for vehicles comprising a pneumatic beam having transverse openings near its ends, means in said openings having provision for securing the beam to the vehicle running gear and means for securing f the beam to the vehicle chassis.

pneumatic beam having ytransverse openings` near its ends, securing plates having tubular extensionstelescoped together within said openings, fork-shaped brackets on the vehiclev axle secured to .said plates and ico adapted to maintain said tubular extensions in telescopic engagement, and means for securing said beam rigidly to the vehicle trame. 9. A vehicle spring comprising an elongated pneumatic casing of flexible material closed at its ends, transverse openings near the ends, the walls of said casing adjacent the openings having reenforced beads, securing plates engaging said beads and having extensions in said openings, means kfor securing the casing between the ends to the vehicle iframe and reenforcing elements in said beads extending along the casing wall adapted to resist upward fiexure of the casing onthe rebound of the vehicle and means to prevent downward i'lexure of the casing.

10. A spring for vehicles comprising an elongated pneumatic casing having transverse openings adjacent its ends, beads in the casing adjacent said openings, securing plates over said beads providing means for opening and a securing plate in said opening, also providing means for attaching the casing to a portion oit' the vehicle, beads adjacent said elongated opening and reen- 'orcing cables associated with the side walls oi' the casing and said beads adapted to resist tiexure of the casing in one direction and to resist lateral swaying of the vehicle.

11. A vehicle spring comprising a pneumatic beam having transverse openings adjacent the ends, beads in the walls adjacent the openings, securing plates having tubular extensions in said openings, securing brackets for said plates, means for attaching the beam between the ends to a portion of the vehicle, tension reenforcing elements partly encircling the Walls of the beam on opposite sides extending upwardly from the beads toward the top wall of the beam and extending aronnd said beads, and tension elementsl imbedded in the walls of the beam around said extensions of the securing plates and extending downwardly toward the bottom wall of the beam between the ends, said tension elements adapted to resist downward and upward i'lexure of the beam.

12. A spring for vehicles comprising an elongated pneumatic casing secured at its ends to the vehicle axle and between the ends to the Vehicle frame, tension cables in the opposite side walls of the casing extending upwardly from near the bottom at the ends toward the top wall midway between the ends and means tying said cables together near thetop Wall of the casing to prevent spreading 'out of said tension cables adapted to resist lateral sway of the vehicle.

13. A spring for vehicles comprising a pneumatic casing secured at its ends to the vehicle axle and presenting an elongated opening' in the top wall between the ends, the vcasing adjacentthe opening having an external bead, a closure plate within the casing having its edges underlying said bead and presenting means extendingjthrough said opening for securing the casing to the vehicle frame and a flanged rim overlying and engaging said bead adapted to support the vehicle frame onthe casing, said rim being clamped upon said bead between the vehicle frame and said closure plate 14. A vehicle spring comprising an elongated pneumatic beam secured near each end and between the ends to the vehicle and reenforcing vmeans associated therewith to resist lateral sway of the vehicle.

15. A vehicle spring comprising an elongated pneumatic casing having continuous side and end wallsand separated connecting devices for attaching said casing yto the vehicle so arranged that the casing constitutes an elastic beam suspension.

16. A vehicle spring comprising the elongated casing 10 having the inflatable inner tube 11 therein, securing plates 15 adjacent the ends of the casing, brackets 18 on the Vehicle axle connected to the securing plates, the securing plate 22 in the top wall of the casing connected to the vehicle frame and the tension elements 26 and 27 associated with the casing walls, all substantiallyas shown and described.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specication.

J ULIUS VON WALDY. 

